Marching Band

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have a Kodak EasyShare DX7440. My daughter is in high school
marching band. I want to take pictures of her performances. They are on
football fields at night under stadium lighting. I sit in the stands. The
pictures I get while the band is standing still are acceptable. However, I
can't get good shots of individuals or the entire band while they are
moving. I have tried night mode (with a tripod)-pictures are blurred. I have
tried sport mode, but the pictures are too dark. I bought a telephoto lens
for the camera. I got good shots of my daughter while she was standing
still, but it didn't make any difference otherwise. Would a slave flash
help? Is there something else I can do to get some good pictures? I've
thought about taking short movies and then capturing individual frames. I
won't have a chance to try this until Friday night; any opinions on that
approach? Any help would be greatly appreciated. (Oh yes-the other band
parents would like for me to e-mail pictures to them. Just a little pressure
to perform!)



Thanks-

Niki

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 18:53:01 -0500, Niki wrote:

> I have a Kodak EasyShare DX7440. My daughter is in high school
> marching band. I want to take pictures of her performances. They are on
> football fields at night under stadium lighting. I sit in the stands. The
> pictures I get while the band is standing still are acceptable. However, I
> can't get good shots of individuals or the entire band while they are
> moving. I have tried night mode (with a tripod)-pictures are blurred. I have
> tried sport mode, but the pictures are too dark. I bought a telephoto lens
> for the camera. I got good shots of my daughter while she was standing
> still, but it didn't make any difference otherwise.

The telephoto adapter would probably worsen the problem as when
it's used, the camera's maximum aperture is probably reduced.


> Would a slave flash help? Is there something else I can do
> to get some good pictures?

Probably not, unless it's very powerful. And as you'd probably
have to use a wireless slave flash, it might have problems being
triggered by other people's cameras (almost everyone seems use their
camera's flash whether it does any good or not). But there are
some things you could do that might help, even if not all are very
practical.

1. With a wireless slave, could you get a helper to get closer to
the field than your position in the stands?

2. If one slave is not powerful enough, you could use a bunch of
them.

3. Buy or borrow a Fuji F10. It's a simple, little P&S camera that
needs far less light than any similar camera. I doubt that most
people would think that the cost of an F10 (or of several flash
units) would be very cost effective. But if you're good at
borrowing things . . .

4. Have you tried setting your camera to its highest sensitivity,
usually for a camera such as yours, about ISO 400? Sports mode is
probably what you need to use to minimize blurring, and if your past
pictures were taken at ISO 100, changing to ISO 400 might allow the
camera to use a shutter speed 4 times faster, which would lighten up
the pictures noticeably.


> I've thought about taking short movies and then capturing individual
> frames. I won't have a chance to try this until Friday night; any opinions
> on that approach?

The resolution will probably not be as good as your camera's and
might even appear more blurred than you're already getting, but it's
worth trying.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi Niki,

You seem to be between a rock and hard place.

The camera you have is great and should be able to do a great job for the
most part. But, to get a good shot of action in low light, requires your
ability to adjust for ambient lighting while maintaining a good shutter
speed. So, I would try setting your camera to its maximum aperture, and a
shutter speed at the point you can hand hold the camera. Set the ISO of the
camera to 800. You are now at the max results, as there is nothing else that
you can use to adjust exposure. REmember, if the subject moves at these max
settings, the only option there is to up the shutter speed or try panning
(moving the camera with the marchers).

Some cameras, not the DX7440, can use external flash options that will
extend the flash range. Your Daughter is likely beyond those ranges anyway,
so you are going to have to time your exposures to when she is in the best
light. Also, move yourself to get the best composition that has the best
lighting. That is about all that can be done to get your best exposures.

Yes, you can use a slave flash, but they are generally small and will not
illuminate your Daughter on the field, much to expansive. They are also for
supporting a main flash and not for their individual use.

I wish you well and success. Send some images. Software tools can also
enhance a shot good shot.

Talk to you soon, Niki,

Ron Baird
Eastman Kodak Company



"Niki" <shieldsn@scican.net> wrote in message
newsc97kb$2u15$1@news.iquest.net...
> I have a Kodak EasyShare DX7440. My daughter is in high school
> marching band. I want to take pictures of her performances. They are on
> football fields at night under stadium lighting. I sit in the stands. The
> pictures I get while the band is standing still are acceptable. However, I
> can't get good shots of individuals or the entire band while they are
> moving. I have tried night mode (with a tripod)-pictures are blurred. I
have
> tried sport mode, but the pictures are too dark. I bought a telephoto lens
> for the camera. I got good shots of my daughter while she was standing
> still, but it didn't make any difference otherwise. Would a slave flash
> help? Is there something else I can do to get some good pictures? I've
> thought about taking short movies and then capturing individual frames. I
> won't have a chance to try this until Friday night; any opinions on that
> approach? Any help would be greatly appreciated. (Oh yes-the other band
> parents would like for me to e-mail pictures to them. Just a little
pressure
> to perform!)
>
>
>
> Thanks-
>
> Niki
>
>